An Event to Remember…Tips for Amazing Event Planning

Convention centers are not the only show in town when it comes to event planning for a small to medium sized corporate event or meeting. In fact, many people have become bored with the typical meeting setting and are looking for newer ways to re-energize their team and get people excited about their work again.

Planning a business luncheon on a boat would be a great way to get people out of the office, into the fresh air, and genuinely interested in what’s going on in the company. By hosting a luncheon on a boat rather than in a conference center, attendees will get the feeling they are valuable to the company and are being talked “to” rather than talked “at.”

If you are land locked or some don’t care for boats, restaurants are a great alternative and many places offer private areas for large group meetings and events. If the meeting is for a very small, yet distinct group, a Michelin starred restaurant has never failed to impress.

If you are searching for an informal and more relaxed setting, an upscale coffee shop or tea room would be ideal. Search for a place with ambience that serves high quality coffees and teas and has a variety of seating options for your guests. You can still maintain an air of formality by sitting around a table, or go for a more casual approach by sitting in comfortable chairs. This is an especially good setting for a brainstorming session. The informal setting displays trust in your team and the openness of the locale allows for more creativity to flow.

If you really want to shake things up, take your next meeting to the great outdoors. If the weather is nice, a smartly decorated picnic table at a local park or botanical gardens can provide a stimulating backdrop to an otherwise dull day. Providing a bag lunch for each guest from the best sandwich shop in town would be the icing on the cake.

A rooftop cafe, the penthouse suite of a beautiful hotel, or even a private club are great alternatives to the typical boardroom meeting. In fact, when it comes to planning meetings and events for small to medium sized groups, the sky is the limit. For large groups however, convention centers are still king. For now.